Women’s Protest Action Was Held in Ukraine

15 03 2011

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On March 8, at 14:00 pm around metro station Arsenalnaia a protest action was held with participation of representatives of civil initiatives, organizations and art and literary unions. The aim of the event was to protest against discrimination, exploitation and oppression of women as well as to condemn sexism and stereotypical representation of women in mass media.

A growing interest towards the patriarchal model of family, in Ukrainian society, is tightly connected to the growing discrimination against women. Women related stereotypes, in today’s Ukraine, are widely used as a means of political ideology. Gradually it has become “normal” in mass media to openly express resentment, hate and aggression towards women. Social hypocrisy is also expressed in the fact that women are being called to live according to the patriarchal values, even when those protective means that patriarchal society should offer them, are not being applied any more.

Nowadays it is harder for women to find employment, especially if they have small children. Their wages are lower than those of male employees even if the work they perform requires the same qualification. Women get fired more often due to the staff cuts. On the ideological level, everything that is perceived as “female” or “feminine” is being seen as secondary and subordinate. The sex becomes one of the basic principles of social stratification. Every year, Ukraine falls lower and lower in the gender equality rating held by the International Economic Forum. According to Global Gender Gap Report in 2010 Ukraine held 63 place in the rating (2009 – 63, 2008 – 62, 2007 – 57, 2006 - 48), giving way to such countries as Estonia (47), Bulgaria (50), Thailand (57), Greece (58) and Botswana (62).

200 years ago, Charles Fourier wrote that the level of women’s emancipation is a natural meter of societal emancipation. It is impossible to create a democratic society, without having overcome sexism – the gender based discrimination.

The march held on 8th of March will be the first event held with women who struggle to protect their rights. Not only women’s organizations are invited to join the action, but also the wider society, which is ready to protest against the social injustice.

Among the organizers of the event are: The Feminist Offensive, NGO “Insight”, Centre of Visual culture “NaYMKA”, Ukrainian union of information technologies industry workers. The event was held with support from union “Xudsovet” and literary publication “ProStory”.

Source: NGO. Insight